A Galloway Township woman allegedly bilked seniors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a scheme that spanned states.
Michelle Mendonca-Walia, 42, is charged with fraud, theft by deception and money laundering after more than $360,000 in her Pitney Road home, alleged to be the proceeds of her fraud.
She was charged Friday and released on a summons.
The investigation was sparked when investigators from a jurisdiction in Texas reached out on behalf of an elderly victim who sent a large sum of money to a Galloway Township address, police said.
It turned out there were multiple victims in multiple states, with some having lost their entire life savings.
The investigation also led to Mendonca-Walia's home, which is also the address for H.R. Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, the business she owns with husband, Rajinder Walia, records show.
Walia, who answered the phone at the business, told BreakingAC that his wife may be a victim, and someone "took advantage of the situation."
She has not received any charges, he said Friday afternoon, hours after police searched the home.
When told that police had put out a release on her arrest, he said they should not have done that yet since they don't know "who is the ringleader behind it" and that they could instead be naming a victim.
But police said there was no indication in the investigation that Mendonca-Walia was a victim.
They did say more things have come to light now that she has spoken with investigators.
Despite the crossing of several state lines, the case currently remains a state-level Superior Court matter, according to police.
Police did not detail how the scheme worked, but did remind residents — especially the elderly — to be cautious when solicited to sent money over the phone or the internet.
"State agencies such as the IRS will never solicit monetary payments over the phone or by email and will never ask for payments to be made in cash," police said.
They advised anyone who may think a call is a scam to ask for contact information or a call back number and contact the police.
The Galloway Township police thanked the agencies that contributed to the investigation.
"We look forward to restoring the elder victims, some of whom lost their entire savings as a result of the fraud," police said.
